The Sweeper: Shaw agreed new Southampton deal because of Adkins

The 17-year-old left-back had been targeted by Chelsea and Arsenal but committed his future to the Saints while unaware of the imminent managerial change at St Mary's Stadium

THE

SWEEPER

TIDYING UP ALL THE LOOSE STORIES IN FOOTBALL THIS WEEK

SHAW AGREED NEW SOUTHAMPTON DEAL BECAUSE OF ADKINS

The Saints became sinners when they sacked Nigel Adkins and the reverberations of his brutal dismissal are still being felt in the dressing room.

The Sweeper has learned that Luke Shaw would not have committed to a new contract earlier this month had he any inclination that Southampton were preparing to dismiss the man who had blooded him in the first team.

The former manager, who was sacked on January 18 and replaced by Mauricio Pochettino only hours later, was extremely popular with the Saints squad, the 17-year-old being among those who regarded him as a valuable mentor and key figure in his development.

Both the teenager and his father were close to Adkins, who handed Shaw his league debut in November and propelled him on a run of 14 consecutive senior starts.

Southampton released an interview on their website on January 10 in which Shaw, widely regarded within the game as the outstanding Englishman in his age group, explained that he had pledged his future to Southampton after chairman Nicola Cortese had explained the "long-term plan for me at the club".

The five-year contract, which will begin when Shaw turns 18 in July, temporarily halted the stampede of interest from the Premier League big-hitters, led by Chelsea and Arsenal.

Sources have said that Shaw had only agreed to the deal after being given assurances by senior club officials about the future of Adkins, who had also provided a pathway from the academy to first team for fellow home-grown players Adam Lallana and James Ward-Prowse.

Shortly after came the sacking of the man who guided Southampton to back-to-back promotions and steered them clear of the Premier League relegation zone following a five-match unbeaten run.

- Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

PREMIER LEAGUE CELEBRATES £24M BEER WINDFALL

The Premier League announced last week that it had signed a three-year deal with Carlsberg to become its official beer partner.

Neither party revealed the financial details but, as revealed by The Sweeper earlier this month, it is understood the agreement is worth four times that of the £6.8 million three-year agreement with Budweiser that expired in 2010.

Carlsberg will pay the Premier League £24m over the three-season term, which begins in the summer, after seeing off interest from Budweiser, Heineken and Diageo to land the title sponsorship.

The world's richest league has been without an official beer sponsor since an eight-year deal with Budweiser ended in 2010.

- Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

SHERINGHAM TAKING COACHING BADGES

Former Manchester United and Tottenham star Teddy Sheringham was always known for his football brain as a player - and now he is ready to share his thoughts and knowledge with Premier League stars.

The 46-year-old is in the process of obtaining his coaching badges at Spurs' state-of-the-art training centre in Enfield with a view to becoming a coach or manager, having used his time since retirement with his family and playing high-stakes poker.

Sheringham travels to Tottenham's training ground every day before returning to his purpose-built mansion in Sewardstone, Essex, which he has named the Nou Camp (not Camp Nou) in reference to his goal in United's historic 1999 Champions League triumph in Barcelona.

- Greg Stobart | Correspondent

COYLE REJECTS BLACKPOOL APPROACH

Fifteen days after Michael Appleton departed to Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool are still searching for their third permanent manager of the campaign but one man who will not be marching through the Seasiders' revolving door is Owen Coyle.